Ch.43Chapter 43: The Request.

After finishing his conversation with the professors, Valt checks his Amlit.

<In Preparation>

However, there were no mission listings available for new students yet.

‘I guess it takes time. Since I still have some time, maybe I’ll visit the library.’

Valt doesn’t know it yet, but there are quite a few vampire-related missions on the continent.

Most of them involve searching for missing persons.

At the library, Valt looks for books about blood magic and vampires.

“Here it is.”

After finding a seat, Valt opens the book and begins reading.

Vampires.

Classified as a similar race or monster.

They receive treatment similar to what beastkin endured in the past.

However, while beastkin have established themselves as recognized humanoids, vampires have not.

The main reason is the rumor that they hunt humans and keep them as livestock for blood supply.

From that perspective, they would be targets for extermination, but there’s a reason why vampires haven’t been completely wiped out.

Because they weaken under sunlight, they’ve settled deep in the great forest where sunlight barely penetrates.

Even reaching the vampire kingdom requires passing through the ‘Neldores Great Forest,’ making it difficult to approach.

As Valt continues reading, he discovers something interesting.

‘Oh, they’re neighbors with elves and beastkin.’

The great forest is also home to the World Tree and the kingdoms of elves and beastkin.

Vampires don’t crave the blood of elves blessed by the World Tree, nor do they drink the blood of beastkin, who are also forest dwellers like themselves.

Instead, they deal with humans who harm the forest, creating a subtle symbiotic relationship between elves, beastkin, and vampires.

The great forest occupies most of the western region and is vast enough that the distance between them could be another reason for their coexistence.

However, living in the same forest doesn’t necessarily mean they get along well.

Valt wanted to rush to the western forest immediately, but first-year students were required to attend academy classes for the first week.

That’s why he couldn’t accept missions yet. It was unfortunate, but those were the rules.

After borrowing the book from the library, Valt checks the time on his Amlit and heads to the training ground. Today, he had promised to teach Irene some exercises and also spar with Seirun.

He’s not sure what techniques he could learn from Irene, and he’s worried whether he can learn anything without being able to use aura.

***

“We’ve found the whereabouts of the Strigoi’s Blood Tears.”

As usual, a man sits at a neat desk with a pipe in his mouth.

Before him, a masked man kneels.

“The location?”

“It’s in Brasov.”

The man exhales pipe smoke and speaks.

“Sigh… What a troublesome place. But if we know its whereabouts, we can’t let it slip. Call the Obscurants. Two should be enough.”

“I’ll relay the message.”

“Hmm, how is the ‘salvation’ side doing?”

The masked man continues in a monotone voice.

“They’re gathering people, mainly from slums and refugees.”

“No matter how vermin-like they are, it would be troublesome if traces remain.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

As the man is about to dismiss his subordinate, he suddenly remembers something else to ask.

“Ah, yes. What about tracking the giant’s molar that fell into Duke Illuin’s hands?”

“There’s been no movement since it went to the Duke.”

“Hmm… Good work, you may go.”

Swish.

The masked man disappears instantly, leaving the pipe-smoking man alone in the room.

“The pieces are coming together. This is getting interesting. Duke Illuin… Does he know something… or is it just coincidence…?”

***

“Caldrian Style Aura Technique First Form: Meteor!”

The aura technique that wasn’t shown during the match with Irene now descends upon Valt.

However, Valt deflects all the spark-shaped sword energy with his palms.

“Anti-Aura Smash.”

Bang! Boom!

Seirun laughs in disbelief. This is an emotion only those who have experienced it can understand.

“Ha, haha… I-I can’t believe this!”

Although Seirun is in the late fifth floor, the power of his decisive technique exceeds that of the sixth floor.

‘Aura is somewhat like magic in a way. How do they create such phenomena with aura?’

Even while lost in thought, Valt defeats Seirun with remarkable ease.

“Sigh… I lost. You didn’t even let me give it my all.”

Seirun seems to have noticed that Valt was distracted.

“Ah… I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”

Seirun smiles slightly. Valt was different from Irene.

Irene had doubted her sword, but Valt’s confident attitude showed he was a warrior among warriors with strong self-belief, despite being distracted.

Though it was hard to understand how he could be a mage.

“No, I can’t blame anyone for my own shortcomings. I’ve just realized I need to work harder.”

Seirun is as straightforward as ever.

After their match ends anticlimactically, Valt turns his gaze to the distance.

“Huff! Huff! Huff! V-Victor! Is this right?!”

Far from where Valt and Seirun were sparring, Irene and Victor Robin are running together.

“Why would a beginner try to use equipment already? You need to build your stamina first. Run 30km every day!”

“Irene, you must never use aura. Understand?”

“Unfair!!”

Irene, who was initially expressionless to the point of coldness, has become more expressive and talkative since meeting Valt.

“I wonder if she’ll be able to teach any techniques at this rate.”

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Two hours later.

“Heck! Heck! Heck! I can’t go on anymore.”

Besides the 30km run, Irene also did bodyweight exercises like duck walks, squats, burpees, planks, and bridges.

Victor advises Irene, who is sprawled on the ground.

“A sword saint’s disciple shouldn’t complain. You need to get used to your body first. Building your body isn’t something that happens easily.”

“Still, it’s impressive that you’ve come this far with an untrained body.”

Victor seems to be the whip, while Robin is the carrot.

Valt approaches Irene, who is lying spread-eagled.

“Hehe, Irene, you look like you’re having fun. How about we call it a day?”

As Valt approaches saying this, Irene finally uses her aura to get up.

“Whew, I should keep my promise. Ow! This muscle pain! It hurts even with aura!”

Victor looks at Irene and smirks.

“Of course it does. You’re moving muscles, so why would muscle pain disappear?”

Valt asks curiously.

“So, what technique are you planning to teach?”

At Valt’s question, Irene wiggles her feet, looking thoughtful.

“Hmm… You can’t use aura, right?”

“That’s right, I can’t use aura. I’m a mage, after all.”

Irene gives Valt an incredulous look at his response.

“Come on, that’s not even funny. A mage with that build… Anyway, because of that, I’ve been thinking that techniques involving internal aura manipulation won’t work for you.”

“Right, I don’t have an aura road.”

“That’s strange… How can someone not have an aura road…? But I thought maybe you could handle techniques that control external forces.”

“External?”

Irene holds out her hand and says:

“Watch carefully. Ha!”

Aura begins to rotate in Irene’s hand. It soon takes the form of a small ball.

“Lushtein Swift Sword, Training Technique: Whirlwind Ball.”

“Training technique?”

“Yes, it’s an aura control method for training. It’s aura, but the reason I want to teach you this technique is…”

Irene throws the whirlwind ball in her hand far away.

Bang!

A small explosion occurs, slightly cratering the ground.

“What do you think? Doesn’t it look like magic? Plus, since it’s externally controlled, you don’t need internal aura manipulation.”

Seirun looks at Irene and says:

“Oh… That’s an interesting training method. We have something similar, but it’s a bit different.”

Seeing Valt’s expression, Irene smiles.

“The key points are concentration, rotation, and compression. You’re good at those things with your mana. Here, let me show you properly. Give me your arm.”

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Irene holds Valt’s arm and uses her aura to guide his mana, teaching him the technique.

It’s quite an unconventional teaching method.

Coincidentally, concentration, rotation, and compression are the processes Valt uses most when casting magic.

After about 15 minutes of instruction, Valt creates a whirlwind ball on his own.

“Hup!!”

Whooosh!

Irene looks at it in disbelief.

“Wait… What is that…? Eight directions? Won’t it explode…?”

Valt has created a whirlwind ball with four directions—horizontal and vertical—of aura spinning around, as Irene taught him.

Even this is extremely difficult. It’s not so much that spinning is hard, but maintaining it is challenging.

However, the whirlwind ball Valt has created uses eight-directional mana rotation based on his high willpower.

And he’s suppressing the high repulsive force with his strength.

Grinning, Valt throws the whirlwind ball.

BOOM!!

KABOOM!!

The high-density mana rotation created greater repulsive force, and since he had been suppressing it with strength, it became an explosive magic that detonates easily with the slightest impact.

A unique magic of Valt’s own, surpassing the power of the training technique, is born.

“Unique magic: Spiral Burst Ball. I’ve learned something very good.”

***

Time passes, and after a week of class observations, Lisa runs into the classroom where her friends are sitting and shouts:

“Everyone! The mission evaluation levels are out!! Quickly check your Amlits!!”